Swiveling current-tap and lamp-socket.



PATENTED JULY 31, 1906.

o. F. HOWES. SWIVBLING CURRENT TAP AND LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1906.

Invnor:

UNITED STATES PATENT. oFFroE.

CHAR-LES F. HOVVES, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC GAS LIGHTING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

I A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SWIVELING CURRENT-TAP AND LAMP-SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1906.

Application filed March 29,1905. Serial No. 252,678.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that L-CHARLES F. HowEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Swiveling Current-Tap and Lamp-Socket, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to swiveling attachment-plugs and to incandescent-lamp sockets and to current-taps.

My invention consists in a device as a whole composed of a swiveling attachmentplug, an incandescent-lamp socket or a socket for any other device, and a currenttap connecting with distant devices-such as incandescent lamps, fans, small motors, &c and in certain subcombinations therein and will be understood by reference to the illustrative accompanying drawings, in Which' Figure 1 is a front elevation, partially broken away to show one of the bindingscrews. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking toward the left. Fig. 3 is an underneath plan view of the swivel-block and its attached parts. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the base and its attached parts. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail.

My invention is shown in the drawings .for use with an Edison form of contact connection but it will be evident to those skilled in the art how to make the slight charlzge for a Thomson-Houston or, if desired, a estinghouse socket.

Referring to the drawings, A is one member of the swivel-block, preferably of porcelain, having a center hole a, through which passes the conductor X, whose top connects electrically with the coming-in wire and also acts as a holding-screw,fastening'the two together, and is in electrical connection with binding-bracket E. I i

B is the outside screw-shell for insertion in the fixture and connecting with wire y throu h a a a. c c 4 D and binding-screw 2 on t e base of the socket-shell. r

C is the other member .of the swivel-block, forming also the insulating-base of the socketshell, and is also perforated at a for the conductor X and has on its base the circular cutaway portion c, from which projects the hub 0, having the cut-away portion 0 and said base has also the cut-away portion 0, in which is the angle-arm c, and the cut-away portion 0 in which is'a square plate for the fastening-screw 5 for screw-shell G.

Around'the hub c is mounted the contact ring 0 having the angle-arm c, by which connection is made through the screw 4 with the contact-bracket D to the circuit-Wire y. The base C has, preferably, the cut-away portion 0 in which is the metallic contact and binding bracket D, through which passes the bindingscrew 2, and the cut-away portion c, in which is placed the metallic contact and binding-bracket E, which, as best shown in Fig. 6, is bent at right angles into an arm perforated for the passage of the rod X and is made with the second arm 0 pivot-- ed to the main arm at 6 in order to secure a resilient contact. 'Through the bracket E -The two circuit.wires a; *y ass through a hole or a slot 1 in socket-Shel F to connect with any distant lamp, fan, motor, &c. (Not shown.)

The 0 eration of my apparatus is as fol: lows: T e screw-shell B 1s inserted in the socket of an ordinary incandescent-lamp fixture, and an incandescent lamp is insert-'- ed in the other screw-shell G, said lamp being lighted in the ordinary way. The oper-. atlon of the cu'rrent-tapis that the wires :0 'y pass to a distant incandescent lam fan, motor, or other electrical device, w ch s provided witlLa switch, whereby said second device may be itself out out of clrcuit or both it and the incandescent lamp'inserted at G may be used at the same time.

Having described my invention, I do not limit myself to. the threefold device precisel as depicted, because various merely mec anical modifications insom'e or all of the constituent'parts may be easily made; but

What I claim is g 1. In a swiveling current-tap and lampsocket, the combination of' a swivel-block I composed of two centrally-perforated members, the upper having a projection for the fixture screw-shell and a recess underneath; the lower supporting the lamp-socket shell and having a. projection entering the recess of the upper member; a conducting-rod passing through said swivel-block, formingpart of the .socket, the combination of a swivel-block composed of two centrally-perforated members, the upper having a projection for the fixture screw-shell and a recess in its under .portlon, the lower member supporting the amp-socket shell and having a projection u on its opposite face to enter the recess of t e upper member; a screw-shell mounted upon the upper member for insertion in the fixture; a lamp-socket shell mounted on the lower member for reception of the lamp; a conducting-rod passing through said members, connecting with the incoming wire and forming a part of the circuit by connecting the outgoing circuit-wire continuouslycoacting electrical contacts mounted respectively upon said projectionof the lower member and within said recess of the upper member; a binding-screw connecting with said electrical contacts within the swivel;

block, and a binding-screw also in electrical contact with said circuit and with a wire leading to a distant device; substantially as described.

.3. In a swiveling current-tap and lampsocket, the combination of a swivel-block composed of two centrally-perforated members', the upper member having a projection for the fixture screw-shell and a recess in its under portion to receive electrical contacts, the. lower member supporting the lampsocket shell and having a projection upon its opposite face to support electrical contacts and to enter the recess of the upper member; a screw-shell mounted upon the upper memher fo insertion in the fixture; a lampsocket shell mounted on the lower member for reception of the socket; a conducting-rodpassing. through said members connecting with the incoming wire and forming a part of the circuit by connecting with the outgo'in circuit-wire; continuously-coacting electrica contacts res ectively mounted upon said proj ection of t e lower member and within the recess of the upper member; a circuit-wire binding-screw connecting with-said electrical contacts within the swivel-block; and a circuit-wire binding-screw, also in contact with said circuit, and with a Wire leadin to a disant device; an exteriormetal shed for said lower member and an insulating-shell between it and the said lamp-socket shell, both cut away for the passage of said circuitwires to a distant device; substantially as block, and adapted to hold its members in swiveling contact; coacting electrical contacts connected withsaid rod and composed of a ring and depending prongs in the recess of the upper member, and a ring gearing with said prongs on the' projecting hub of the lower member; a binding-screw electrically connecting said central rod and with a circuit-wire leading to a distant device; substantially as described.

5. In a swiveling current-tap and lampsocket, the combination of a swivel-block composed of an upper member perforated through its. center and adapted to support the fixture screw-shell and cut away underneath, and a lower member similarly erforated and provided with a projecting iub to fit into the recess of the upper member; a fixture screw-shell upon the upper member; a lamp-socket screw-shell mounted upon the face of the lower member; a conducting-rod connecting with the incoming wire and passin through said swivel-block and adapted to ho d its members in swiveling contact; coacting electrical contacts composed of a ring and depending prongs in the recess of the upper member, and a ring iearin with said pron s on the projecting ub o the lower mem er; binding-screws connectin said central rod;with the regular lamp-soc et screwshell and with a circuit-wire leading to a distant' device; a circuit-bracket; angled and supplied witha resilient arm, and encircling said co ducting-rod, and 1n electrical connection ith one of said binding-screws; a

, metallic shell and an insulating-shell between -the same and said socket-shell, the two latter properly cut awa to admit the the circuit-wires eading to the vice substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 25th day of March, 1905.

CHARLES HOWES. I

In presence of- CHARLES W. WILKINS, ALBE T D. MULLEN.

assage of istant de- 

